The Impact so far...

Past Projects

Founder Connor Archer revealed the 2nd phase of the project to classroom teacher Karen Thibault. This phase included purchasing a projector, and accessories for the projector. Archer has also spent time, sharing the 'One Word' video to different organizations, sending a powerful message to individuals in our community.

Summer of 2015 (Green House Gardens & Technology Expansion Project)

The Courageous Steps Project this past summer, expanded the Green House Gardens even more, building raised beds, and installing a little walkway connecting the two gardens together. This year's gardens have looked the best since they were created 3 years ago.

Another big Courageous Steps Project must, was the technology expansion project at the Green House. We completed the first phase this past summer, purchasing 2 iPads, with a bluetooth speaker system, and a router to use for wireless internet service.

Summer of 2014 (Green House Gardens)

This past summer, we have continued our efforts at the Green House Nursery School Gardens, by connecting the two gardens. The Green House Garden and Bob's Memorial Garden at the Green House Nursery School were connected as we continued to clean up the Green House. Money raised by the Courageous Step Fundraiser, was given to the Green House to use with programs that they may be struggling with funds. The $2,000 raised, are going only towards programs that help with educational tools, besides technology and gardening.

A portion of the summer went to painting the ramp at the Green House Nursery School, rearranging the playground, installing a fence at the Green House Nursery School for the new designated pool area, and providing assistance to the Green House as they are always looking for help.

The gardens received another huge donation from the following flower nurseries in the local Bangor Area. The Bob's Sensory Garden plants were donated by Evermay Nursery in Orono, and Bagley's Greenhouse in Orono. Those were planted into the garden later in July.

Winter 2014The project began to take a turn for the better. As I became more comfortable with myself, I decided to give a presentation about myself during health class. The assignment was to choose a mental disorder, so I decided to choose my disorder: Autism. It took lots of courage to present to my classmates about my journey with Autism. After the presentation, I entered the hallway of Old Town High School as a new person. It was a life changing experience for me and I was able to do the same presentation again to my other classmates.

After 2 months, I decided to host my own honor's seminar and talk about my disability. It took lots of preparation, but it was the best presentation that I have ever done. Some of my former, and present teachers were present at the seminar, including administrators who have played a big role in my education. Many honor's students attended the seminar which counted as one of their 9 required honor's seminars. The feedback was very positive and it gave me even more confidence to move forward with the next phase of my project.

This part of the project, I plan to continue to share my experiences and knowledge with other students and teachers. Over the years I have learned how to learn and how to become a strong advocate for my learning needs. This has made a huge difference in my education and allowed me to be a successful honor's student in high school. Next year, I hope to be able to speak to more RSU #34 staff and students about my disability and strategies that help me to learn and grow as an individual living with autism. I also expect to reach out beyond my own school district and, hopefully be given the opportunity to speak to students and staff in Milford, Orono, Veazie, and other local communities. My goal is to help students who are living with autism to develop their own voice and self-advocacy skills while also helping teachers to understand the unique learning profile of students with autism spectrum disorders. Working together, as teachers and students, we can do great things!

Summer 2013As I continued the landscape portion of the project, I was not ready to get the landscaping portion done quite yet. My next vision was to create a memorial garden for former employee Bob Fareber. Bob was my social worker, mentor and friend for about 7 years. His vision was to create a garden that the kids could use and that expressed his personality. He told me that vision when I was in 8th grade. When he passed away, I knew that I had to make a garden for him. I did a lot of digging and removing unnecessary clutter to clean up the area and create the garden that had been his dream.

Creating the garden included planting lots of perennials that would eventually grow to be big plants covering the chain-linked fence. The perennials were donated by Black Bear Lawn Care, so they were very healthy plants! I also created a pathway to a little seating area as you can see in the picture. I was able to use a nearby pile of sand and I created a vegetable garden off to the side where I planted seedlings donated from Bagley's Greenhouse on Stillwater Avenue in Orono. We also received many unique plants from Evermay Nursery Green House in Orono. In 2014, we will be creating a sensory garden which will include many plants with unique smells for the children to experience including: mint, thyme, sage, marigolds, ornamental onions. Please visit the site in July for pictures!

We then mulched the garden and made a border for the path as well as filled pots with colorful, vibrant flowers, also donated by Bagley's of Orono.

After working on the gardens for a week, I revealed the project to Lynn Fareber, the director, who was again overwhelmed by the work I had put in to the area. I agreed to keep the landscaping happening throughout the project with the third phase coming in 2014. (Read more about the plan for the third phase on the UPCOMING PROJECTS page.

Summer 2012I, Connor Archer, had the required paperwork signed to start my high school service learning project which is now part of the Courageous Steps Project.

With my mom's help, we transformed the back of the Green House Dino's Clubhouse, into a garden which all students at the school use.

It was not an easy project. We had to start by clearing all the older clutter that was meant to be disposed years ago. We put the clutter in another location of the facility. After, I went out in the wooded area to clear the compost that was built years ago.

As I kept investigating in that area, a nest of hornets stun my neck that day. I was fine, but it was an experience I did not want to happen again. That night, we took care of the problem by spraying some chemicals that killed the nest.

My mom was a huge help with this project. She shared her ideas with me, and I liked most of the ideas. She would gently guide me and encourage me as I designed and constructed the learning center and garden.

It took lots of preparation for the first phase to be complete. I had to built the platforms that would be placed by the big rock that was already there. I had to paint chairs, build a table for the students, as well as landscape the whole area.

This also included adding a nature lab which allowed the students to look a specimens found in the area.

After all of that, we presented the first phase, and that phase was completed. The staff and students were overwhelmed of how much was done. The whole area was transformed. This was so rewarding to see my hard work make so many people happy and I was so proud. At that moment, I knew that my volunteering to help give back to the Green House had only just begun and I immediately began thinking about the next year and what I could do to help expand the gardens to be able to involve even more children.

Fall 2012In the Fall of 2012, closer to the winter season, I gave a presentation to a series of teachers in our local area at the UTC facility. I was given this opportunity by Dr. Tim Rogers. One of his colleagues, was hosting a workshop, with local teachers in our area. I talked about strategies teachers can use to teach an individual with a disability and what that individual may need if he/she has a language based disability, like autism. Many professionals learned a lot from me, and they were so amazed at my development as I shared with them what I had to overcome to get to where I was at that moment to be able to speak to them.

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